Im sorry that You lost Zazu
i have a splayed leg lovie named Kiwi who is now almost 2 years old( She have one splayed leg and a deformed leg 3 VETS had suggested me to put her down, She looked like Zazu when he was a baby, She have a splayed leg i tried with everything i read but after 8 weeks of age She pulled It out herself :/ and 5 minutes per day, but her both feet grabbed My fingers i made massages everyday and hydro therapy in both legs) and Even a breeder in a pet store that also said She was going to suffer. I had her when She was a baby always laying down in towells until the Vet (after seeing How much she had improved) said Take the towells out LET her climb because birds anatomy are NOT made to be laying down All the time You have to make her more active, At first i didnt followed the advice until Kiwi begun making holes in the towells so towells went out and She doesnt lay down anymore, unless She takes a nap!
Vet told me birds that are always laying down that position makes them prone to respiratory infections, kidney problems and muscle tone problems, so She told me one as a parront of a special Bird You have to make them move and fly (even If they are clipped like Kiwi is) She have problems landing but still She flies, and the only health problems She had once was mites.
She DOES have mild labourious breathing, but vet said It is because of her legs and the fact that She spend laying down since She hatched until around 3 months of age (thats when i took the towells out) which in lovies is not normal to pass that time laying down. So her lungs developped not 100% normal. but lately She is super active so i know She is fine. Laying down it's only ok If the bird is with eggs and such.
Shame i didnt saw this thread earlier. I saw most Pictures of Zazu were of him laying down and from what My vet said that is not good for any bird's condition! So only thing to do this time is learn from the experience and now know that there shouldnt be any towells Or fleece If they are in a cage let them explore, climb. Let the bird climb ALL to the top of the cage. Just because they are handicapped doesnt mean we Got to treat them like If they are fragile. Kiwi have thaught me that i USED to run to her every time She fell She bit me hard every time i went to help her! Like saying "mom i can do It" and She fell again and i was feeling sad thinking poor baby once i stopped running to help her She got Sweet! And She hangs from the top of the cage like ohhh and walks around like that. She still sometimes falls i check her make sure She is ok. She lets me know by climbing up again. This is how Kiwi learned to stand. Also by watching Baylee.